Monday, December 5, 2016

I have come across the following Canadian genealogy, history and heritage websites, social media, and newspaper articles this past week that were of interest to me, and I thought you might be interested in them, too.

This Week in Canadian History

Black Rock

01 December 1859 - Contractors Peto, Brassey and Betts, when they built the Victoria Bridge for the Grand Trunk Railway, erected a gigantic 30-ton block of black stone to serve as a memorial to 6,000 Irish immigrants, victims of a typhus epidemic, who died in fever sheds set up at Windmill Point, Montreal.

Their remains were discovered in 1859 by workers on the bridge. Its inscription reads: "To preserve from desecration the remains of 6000 immigrants who died of ship fever A.D.1847-8 this stone is erected by the workmen of Messrs. Peto, Brassey and Betts employed in the construction of the Victoria Bridge A.D.1859".

It's been 84 years since a large mob rioted and looted the Colonial Building in St. John's, and now with restoration of the building nearing completion, the Speaker of the House of Assembly is asking people to bring back items taken.

The other day, I was listening to a radio journalist interviewing young adults in Halifax about whether they were planning to vote in the civil election.

For anyone like myself, who never fails to vote, the reasons people give for not voting continue to dismay me. An urban Canadian now has more means of learning what is going on than has had any society in human history. Yet, a man in his 20s was surprised, days before election day, that there even was an election!

While the clock on Halifax City Hall stopped forever at 9:04 a.m. on Dec. 6, 1917, plans to commemorate the tragic explosion that stopped it are marching on.

Annual ceremonies set for next Tuesday at 9:04 a.m. are just the beginning of a year’s worth of recognition of the historic impact, down through the generations, of the largest man-made explosion prior to the atomic bomb.

'Butterbox babies' maternity home survivors still search for birth families

With more than 40,000 photos, a Facebook group celebrating the history of Miramichi, N.B., is helping people who live in the region get a glimpse of the past.

Group administrators Karl Wade and Charles Asoyuf started the group Our Miramichi Heritage Photo in 2012 and began adding a large collection of old pictures Asoyuf had been collecting for years. The group now has more than 8,000 members.

Montreal’s mayor is again facing criticism over changing the name of a city park — this time from members of the Italian community fighting to preserve the legacy of renowned local artist.

A park in the city’s Hochelaga-Maisonneuve district named after late Italian-Canadian artist Guido Nincheri is expected to be renamed after Quebec City next year, where it will display several statues the city is gifting to Montreal in honour of its 375th birthday.

Montreal's Guido Nincheri Park to keep its name following public outcry

Award-winning Spirit Lake Internment Interpretative Center, celebrating its sixth successful year, continues to welcome many visitors to its museum. This year’s summer tourist season broke previous summer records, with over 4,000 coming to the center. Since 2011 over 30,000 have walked through the center to learn about the area, the unjust internment at Spirit Lake – the second-largest internment site in Canada – and about early 20th century Ukrainian immigrant history to Quebec.

The dustbowl years on the Canadian prairies live on in the imaginations and landscapes of Western Canadians.

Elderly survivors might still leave teacups upside down on saucers, as they did in the 1930s when dust settled everywhere in a household. Treebelts hastily planted on farms to reduce wind erosion have now become mature stands. In southern Saskatchewan, when a dry spell stretches over two seasons, farmers begin to scour again their holdings. Well aware of what happened in the 1930s, they look for the “hardpan” emerging from soils starting to shift and blow on their land.

The dustbowl of the 1930s might have ended over eighty years ago, but many western Canadians still watch for its return.

The B.C. government has awarded the Indus Media Foundation a one-time grant of $248,500 to share South Asian heritage through exhibition displays and learning tools intended for B.C. schools and community spaces.

Oak Bay’s Merna Forster has been honoured with the Pierre Berton Award for popularizing Canadian history.

In a ceremony at Rideau Hall, Gov-Gen. David Johnston presented Forster with a medal and a $5,000 cash prize.

Canadian Stories this Week

Our Canada - Your Family - Building a Nation,

As the time approaches for Ontario's annual conference to be held from 16-18 June 2017 at Algonquin College, Ottawa, Ontario called Our Canada - Your Family - Building a Nation, they have released the latest in the attractions that will be available to attendees and some of them are -

Are you getting ready? Do you want to be in Ottawa when the anniversary of Canada'a 150 birthday celebrations start the 1st of January?

Then you should be at Parliament Hill on December 31 when there will be entertainment, and fireworks to kick off 2017!

The evening will begin at 7 p.m. with a Peace Tower Carillon concert, followed by a national ceremony attended by dignitaries and Olympic and Paralympic athletes, among others. The talented Julie Nesrallah will sing the national anthem.

At precisely 8:17 p.m., a spectacular pyro-musical display will light up the sky of Canada's Capital Region with fireworks launched simultaneously from Nepean Point, Alexandra Bridge and Parliament Hill. The fireworks will be accompanied by Canadian music that will transport the audience through time and revisit different historical eras of our country over the past 150 years. There will be different spots in Gatineau and Ottawa offering a great view of the fireworks, including the Canadian Museum of History and Major's Hill Park.

Starting at 9 p.m., Acadian duo Radio Radio will rock the main stage at Parliament Hill with their signature Chiac electro-rap sound. The festivities will continue at 10 p.m. with Alberta country singer Brett Kissel entertaining the crowd. Grammy- and Juno-nominated, multi-platinum singer-songwriter and recording artist Carly Rae Jepsen will close out the show before the countdown to 2017 and the traditional fireworks display. The British Columbia native is sure to bring people of all ages to their feet to properly kick off the New Year.

It sounds as if it will be something to see. If the fireworks were as great as they were this past Canada Day, it will be something to see. We sat and watched them in between the rain drops, and were entertained immeasurably.

If you can't be in Ottawa that evening, memorable events celebrating the 150th anniversary of Confederation will be held in 18 other urban centres on December 31: St. John's, Charlottetown, Halifax, Fredericton, Moncton, Québec City, Montréal, Toronto, Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Victoria, Whitehorse, Yellowknife, and Iqaluit.

Monday, November 28, 2016

I have come across the following Canadian genealogy, history and heritage websites, social media, and newspaper articles this past week that were of interest to me, and I thought you might be interested in them, too.

This Week in Canadian History

Sir Clifford Sifton

In 1874, Sit Clifford Sifton was named the Minister of the Interior, with the task of filling the Prairies with settlers. And fill them he did!

After the 1885 Northwest Rebellion led by Louis Riel was put down, settlers began to pour into Alberta. Around 1890, about 600,000 Americans moved to Saskatchewan and Alberta, where the farming frontier flourished from 1897-1914. Other Canadians, as well as British, German, and Ukrainian immigrants, also went Out West.

The Ji'ka'we'katik Trail will be the main connection to the four-season trail system that covers 25 kilometres in the park. The name means "the place where bass are plentiful" and is the traditional Mi'kmaq name for the West River.

Last Thursday, a fire unfortunately destroyed The Robillard, a historic 19th-century building in Montreal's Chinatown district. As a heritage building, the Robillard certainly lived up to the designation with its historical significance: it was the birthplace of cinema in Canada.

‘Montreal’s Michelangelo’ to disappear from park to make way for statues donated by Quebec City

Guido Nincheri was one of Canada’s greatest religious artists, described as Montreal’s Michelangelo. But as the city prepares to celebrate its 375th anniversary next year, the administration is erasing Nincheri’s name from an east-end park to instead honour the provincial capital.

Referred to of late as "the Holy Grail of St. Thomas artifacts," a smoking piece of history has now returned to the city, if only temporary.

At a short ceremony Friday afternoon at the Elgin County Museum, a rare cigar box that once housed Jumbo-brand stogies from the Honsinger cigar factory on Talbot Street was returned to St. Thomas for public viewing.

I had always thought it would be great to own an antique car with a wooden steering wheel, and when I heard through word of mouth there was a 1918 McLaughlin Buick stored in a garage in Colbourne, I knew it was just the vehicle I was looking for.

The Chinese Canadian Archive will collect and preserve documents, photographs and memorabilia which reflect the rich heritage of the Chinese Canadian community in Toronto. Please join us to learn more about this exciting project.

When Ida Lewis Siegel turned 90, Canadian Jewish Congress official Ben Kayfetz wrote an article celebrating her many accomplishments within Toronto’s Jewish community, noting that she had devoted her life to the community’s welfare and that she was still in possession of an impressive memory.

Saskatchewan

The thrill of the find: Saskatoon's metal detectives unearth pieces of history

The Ministry of Transportation has some great news for people who love B.C.’s roadside heritage: the ministry is rejuvenating, and adding to, the iconic Stop of Interest signs around the province. And in an interview with The Journal, Transportation Minister Todd Stone said that the province is also bringing back the Garbage Gobblers, the bug-eyed creatures that guarded garbage cans beside B.C. highways for many years.

Cyber Monday is here, so take advantage of the savings to send in your research question or brick wall about your Canadian ancestor.

Cross-border migrations a specialty.

Elizabeth Lapointe Research Services (www.elrs.biz) offers free, no-obligation consultations, and—for a limited time—a 15% discount on research work commissioned from the Consultation Report.

“Thank you for your efforts and the report that resulted. The report is well done, professionally presented and completed in a timely manner”. Peg, New Mexico

“Ms. Lapointe’s service is a good value for the money. I am a repeat customer. I have previously hired various genealogists in the USA and Northern Ireland. The professional quality of Ms. Lapointe’s work is first-rate”. Michael D., Miami, Florida

Confidentiality assured. Emails, telephone numbers, and addresses are never sold or traded.

Monday, November 21, 2016

I have come across the following Canadian genealogy, history and heritage websites, social media, and newspaper articles this past week that were of interest to me, and I thought you might be interested in them, too.

This Week in Canadian History

Canadian in Hong Kong Battle in 1941

In 1941, the Royal Rifles of Canada and the Winnipeg Grenadiers arrive in Hong Kong to back up the British garrison. The 1,975 Canadian troops were sent even though they were not considered fit for action. Of the Canadians units sent to Hong Kong, 557 were killed in action or died in prison camps.

In 2009, the Hong Kong Veterans Memorial Wall was unveiled in Ottawa. It lists the names of the 1,975 men and women that helped defend Hong Kong. The 17-day battle was Canada’s first military engagement of the Second World War.

Despite northerners contributions — and sacrifices — during both World Wars, two Laurentian University professors have found that very little has been recorded about the men and women from Northern Ontario who served.

On November 11, Canadians collectively paused to pay tribute to citizens who have defended this country. However, Remembrance Day is a statutory holiday for only some parts of Canada, as not all provinces recognize the day as a ‘day off.’ Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and Nova Scotia all have policies surrounding the observance of Remembrance Day, but they have not recognized it as a full statutory holiday.

History is what happens day to day, the little facts, people and places that make up the fabric of our lives. On Friday, November 25, Randy Boswell, former journalist at the Ottawa Citizen and professor of Journalism & Communication at Carleton University, will delve into the fascinating stories found in newspapers, the old Almonte Gazette in particular.

A venue that features a Viking ship, a children’s “Garden of Imagination” based on the beloved stories of Hans Christian Andersen, and artifacts marking the arrival of the Danes to central Alberta over a century ago is a “treasure in the middle of nowhere”.

Saskatchewan

Métis history in Saskatchewan recognized in naming of new Stonebridge public library branch

Everyone loves a grand circle, and this was mine: A 2,200-mile loop through British Columbia that showcased water, mountains, remnants of volcanoes and the storied sites of Canada’s gold-rush and fur-trade eras.

Canadian Stories this Week

North Cumberland Historical Society

Although these was difficulty in accessing their new website last week, I was successful in contacting it this weekend, and it's the new website of the North Cumberland Historical Society in Pugwash, Nova Scotia.

This is a very good website which echoes the town of Pugwash's interest in genealogy and history. They have collections of extensive Family Files, cemeteries, original grantees of North Cumberland County, and obituaries.

Plus, the site gives the history of Alleton, Middleton, Conn's Mills, Victoria, Gulf Shore, and Wentworth.

As of last week, 361,236 of 640,000 files are now available online at the Library and Archives Canada.

Library and Archives Canada is digitizing the service files systematically, from box 1 to box 10,686, which roughly corresponds to alphabetical order. So far, we have digitized the following files: Latest box digitized: Box 6052 and the surname of Mattineau.

Please check the database regularly for new additions and if you still have questions after checking the database, you may contact the LAC directly at 1-866-578-7777 for more assistance, or you may contact myself at genealogyresearch@aol.com to photocopy the complete service record, or explain certain records for you.

Do you know that Sir Wilfrid Laurier had the largest unbroken term of office as Canada’s seventh prime minister? He was one of the most colourful prime ministers of his time, and his passion for the office and for Canada can be seen in the numerous letters that he wrote to his wife, Zoe.

This year is the 175th anniversary of his birth and as such, the Library and Archives Canada, which houses his papers and memorabilia, now has over 60,870 records and more are continually being added. They can be accessed in person at the Library and Archives Canada.

Monday, November 14, 2016

I have come across the following Canadian genealogy, history and heritage websites, social media, and newspaper articles this past week that were of interest to me, and I thought you might be interested in them, too.

This Week in Canadian History

John McKenzie became the second Prime Minister of Canada

In 1873, John McKenzie became the second Prime Minister of Canada. He introduced the secret ballot, established the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston in 1874, created the Office of the Auditor General in 1878, and struggled to continue progress on the national railway.

He was also in power during the economic depression that had grown out of the Panic of 1873 - The depression took place from 1873 until 1879, and even longer in some countries. The Panic was also known as the "Great Depression" until the depression in the late 1930s.

The Canadian Letters and Images Project—an initiative begun by the Nanaimo University’s department of history—started in 2000 with the mission to create an online archive of soldiers’ letters and photographs, from any war, in order to give those brave souls a dimension often lost to the passages of time.

Phase one of a major redevelopment of Green Gables Heritage Place in Cavendish, P.E.I., has begun, with work taking place this fall and over the winter to support construction and on-site operations during the 2017 tourism season.

Any conversation with a Nova Scotian will eventually arrive at the ocean. We all carry beliefs and memories about our province’s oceanic nature, most of which are rooted in stories about stormy tragedies, majestic tall ships, or the exploitation of what seemed like an endless, bottomless resource.

One of Sault Ste. Marie’s greatest war heroes, William Merrifield, or “Bill” as he preferred to be called, was the recipient of six medals during the First World War, including the British Victoria Cross.

One of Canada’s oldest regiments, the Royal Canadian Dragoons, has for it’s regimental badge, a South African springbok.

It might seem strange for a Canadian military unit to have an African animal as its symbol, but it goes back to 1900 and an action that saw three Canadians awarded the Empire’s highest honour for valour, the Victoria Cross.

A service of remembrance – a Canadian first at Ontario’s Gursikh Sabha Canada

Two heritage homes, two different results. On Monday, city council considered heritage alteration permits for 215 Manitoba St. and 105 College Crt., ultimately voting four to two in favour of allowing the Manitoba Street home to be demolished and unanimously opposing demolition of the home on College Court.

A massive amateur history project about the thousands of Canadians who took part in World War I is getting assistance from the University of Victoria this Remembrance Day.

Canadian Stories this Week

Hamilton Branch Loyalist Cemetery Plaquing Project

Kudos to the people who have been placed a Loyalist plague at their ancestors grave sites in Ontario since 2009.

The article entitled Hamilton Branch Loyalist Cemetery Plaquing Project on the United Empire Loyalists page at http://www.uelac.org/Loyalist-Projects/Hamilton-Loyalist-Burial-Plaquing-Project.php says that they “chose a plaque with two layers of polymer resin with white background and blue lettering. The armourial bearings are on the plaque painted with acrylic paint. We have a nice royal blue 2 inch metal post, 8 feet high with a cap on it, to which the plaque is attached”.

Have you ever visited Brock University Digitization Collection at the James A. Gibson Library?

They have The Special Collections and Archives houses some of the more unique, rare and valuable collections in the Brock University Library. Primary collecting interests include The Niagara Collection, The Loyalists Collection, The Masonic Book Collection, and the War of 1812 Materials.

This is a great resource, growing everyday, it seems.

I needed to see the maps of the Welland Canal the other day, and I fell upon the site, and was impressed!

Thursday, November 10, 2016

The Canadian War Museum invites all Canadians from across the country and around the world to view one of the most moving Remembrance Day ceremonies in Canada.

On November 11 at exactly 11 a.m. Eastern Standard Time, sunlight shines through a single window in the War Museum’s Memorial Hall to illuminate the headstone of Canada’s Unknown Soldier through the webcast. This is the first year that a webcast has been offered.

Monday, November 7, 2016

I have come across the following Canadian genealogy, history and heritage websites, social media, and newspaper articles this past week that were of interest to me, and I thought you might be interested in them, too.

This Week in Canadian History

James Naismith, the inventor of basketball

06 November 1961, the US Post Office issued a stamp honoring the 100th birthday of Canadian James Naismith, the inventor of basketball.

He was born at Almonte, Ontario, the son of John Naismith and Margaret Young. In 1883, he entered McGill University in Montreal where he earned a BA in Physical Education, and in 1890, he left for Springfield College in Massachusetts, where he invented basketball. The first game was played in 1891 at the school.

The Crazy Kitchen site is still less-than-looney, and the giant locomotives are still under wraps (literally), but the rebuilt Canada Science and Technology Museum is starting to take shape off St. Laurent Boulevard.

Newspaper Articles

Ontario

Restoration work finished, Ottawa's National War Memorial is open to the public again

Three years ago, when the news broke that Honest Ed's department store would be torn down and turned into residential buildings, most of the stories focused on that store and its history. Honest Ed's is an icon, to be sure, but in the process another part of Toronto's history was glossed over.

Kingston releases proposed plans for redesign of penitentiary and harbour

With every chord, countless stories of Canadian history echoed through the auditorium.

Each strum of the Six String Nation guitar is made possible by 64 unique pieces of wood, bone, metal, stone and fabric that make up the instrument and embody the country’s culture, heritage and traditions.

War Museum acquires artifacts related to last Canadian soldier killed during First World War

The medal set and the memorial plaque in honour of Private George Lawrence Price, the last Canadian soldier killed during the First World War, have been donated to the Canadian War Museum. Private Price died at 10:58 a.m. on November 11, 1918 — two minutes before the armistice went into effect.

A landmark of Yellowknife’s 70 years of gold mining heritage disappeared at 5 PM Saturday afternoon, when the 25-storey high (76 meter) Robertson Headframe shuddered and toppled in a controlled explosive demolition.

Canadian Stories this Week

Veteran's Week

It is Veteran's Week, a week in which we honour our veterans from November 5 to 11. The Government of Canada, as well as Veterans’ organizations, youth groups, and individuals throughout the country hold hundreds of commemorative ceremonies and events to honour Canada’s Veterans, those still-serving in the Canadian Armed Forces, the RCMP, as well as those who have fallen in the line of duty.

Since Confederation (the founding of Canada in 1867), more than 2.3 million Canadians have served in Canada’s armed forces to defend freedom and democracy—with more than 118,000 having given their lives.

Lesley Anderson sent us a note last week to let us know that Ancestry.ca has now a Twitter handle - @AncestryCA. She says that they hope this “ will become your trusted source for curated genealogy, Canadian history and DNA-related news shared through a uniquely Canadian lens, sprinkled in with some fun facts, good humour, and captivating images. We’ll also be sure to keep our followers updated on the latest Ancestry news”.

So give it a try!

New Books

There are several new books in the Genealogy and Family History Room located on the 3rd floor of the Library and Archives Canada building at 395 Wellington Street, and they are -

About Me

www.GenealogyCanada.com

Please visit our site - www.GenealogyCanada.com
There is lots of Canadian genealogy news to browse through, so please drop in for a spell.
There are also Canadian heritage and history news items, and the "Website of the Month" - always a surprise treat.
Thank you for dropping by - we appreciate your visits!!

Elizabeth Lapointe Research Services

Need a Canadian researcher?

Looking for someone who came to the United States from Canada, or went to Canada from the U.S., the U.K., or Europe?

I specialize in cross-border migration, and offer many options in finding your family.

Search GenealogyCanada

Booklet #1 - The War of 1812: Canada and the United States

The booklet, “The War of 1812: Canada and the United States”, gives a synopsis of the causes of the War, and details the battles that took place (who, where, and when), and which included British forces, Blacks, and Aboriginal warriors who fought on both sides of the conflict.

Booklet #2 – Migration: Canada and the United States

These headings offer good examples of those who came to Canada, or of Canadians who left for the U.S, and why. The booklet gives a synopsis of what records to look for, the books written on the subject, where to find online resources, and a bonus list of some famous Canadians who migrated to the U.S.